NBTC and Chulalongkorn University sign MoU on 5G testing centre

Economy December 12, 2018 01:00

By Sirivish Toomgum
The Nation

THE NATIONAL Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chulalongkorn University to collaborate on a 5G wireless broadband technology testing centre at the university.

The move is part of the regulator’s continued preparations for 5G to get off the ground in Thailand in 2020.

The centre is expected to be set up fully by next year and the testing will last for two years.

NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said yesterday that the regulator would fund the establishment of the centre and related costs during the two years of testing. The total cost is expected to be around Bt50 million.

The centre would be open for any interested parties to conduct testing. The watchdog will assign the 26GHz and 28GHz spectrum bands for testing.

The trial will also cover technologies related to 5G technology such as Internet of Things.

Advanced Info Service (AIS) and True Corp have already been conducting 5G technology trials after being given permission by the NBTC last month.

The NBTC is expected to auction the 700MHz spectrum in the second half of next year to provide 5G service.

In a separate matter yesterday, AIS subsidiary Advanced Wireless Network (AWN) paid the NBTC its last instalment for the 1800MHz licence up front. The payment, the third instalment, totalled Bt10.963 billion (including value added tax).

The payment is for AWN’s first 1800MHz licence that it won in 2015 by offering a bid of Bt40.986 billion.

AWN won its second 1800MHz licence in August this year by offering Bt12.511 billion. AWN has already paid the first instalment amounting to Bt6.693 billion (including value added tax) of the second 1800MHz licence.